VCU news

By Caitlin Hanbury
School of Nursing

Lisa F. Brown of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Nursing, whose research has been instrumental in helping mothers develop effective feeding practices for their newborns, will receive one of the field’s most prestigious honors in November when she is inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Brown, Ph.D, an assistant professor, is among 233 nurse leaders selected for the 2024 class of fellows, who are being recognized for significant contributions to advancing health and health care through research, education and clinical practice. Induction will be held at the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Washington.

Brown is a researcher specializing in improving maternal competence, particularly in mother-premature infant feeding interactions. Her work has been instrumental in developing interventions that support mothers in establishing effective feeding practices critical for infant health and development. She pioneered a method to assess maternal sensitivity and responsiveness during feeding, utilizing real-time observation and sequential analysis to study the infant’s response to maternal behavior.

“Receiving the [fellow] designation is a tremendous honor, and I’m deeply excited about the opportunities it brings,” Brown said. “I look forward to joining one of the academy’s expert panels, collaborating with nurse leaders to address critical issues in nursing and health care. This designation represents not only recognition but also a chance to actively contribute to the advancement of nursing practice and policy.”

“This recognition is a testament to Dr. Brown’s contributions to nursing education and research,” said Patricia A. Kinser, Ph.D., interim dean and Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey Distinguished Professor at VCU’s School of Nursing. “Her dedication to advancing the field has made a profound impact on our school and the broader health care community. We are proud of her achievement and look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work.”

Brown’s research explores factors including maternal anxiety, stress, confidence, depression, and focus, as well as infant health issues such as prematurity, breathing problems and brain injuries. Brown is particularly interested in how these factors impact mother-infant bonding, heart rate, infant behavior and overall growth. More recently, she has expanded her research to examine the effects of prenatal drug exposure on infant mental health, growth and development, using both qualitative and quantitative designs.

One of Brown’s most notable contributions is the development of the Maternal-Infant Feeding Tool, an innovative assessment that helps mothers improve feeding practices through instructional video vignettes. Her passion for this work began during her time as a NICU nurse, where she witnessed the challenges mothers faced in feeding preterm infants. This experience inspired her research, which continues to enhance maternal and neonatal health and influence clinical practice.